So, I bought a new Acer Aspire One Netbook for my wife and for home use. It is a terrific little machine. It comes with Windows 7, 1gb RAM, a 160gb hard drive, 3 USB ports, external video jack, 10″ LCD screen, 100mb ethernet, WiFi, cam and a microphone for only $325. And it weighs just over 2 pounds.

But when I went to install my printer to the machine I ran into a problem. I have a HP LaserJet 1320TN at home. It has been a terrific printer. It has 2 trays and it prints on both sides of a page. It has never had a single problem. I think the printer is about 7 or 8 years old. So, I get out the CD that came with the printer and I copy it onto a thumb drive because the netbook does not have a CD drive. Then I try to install it but it just doesn’t work. The printer software is too old.

So, I went online and searched the HP website for an updated driver. All I could find was a generic driver and it would not allow me to select my different printer trays.

Windows 7 was NOT my idea.

What do I gain by getting yet another operating system from Microsoft? I do not see any new, compelling functionality that makes Windows 7 worth the loss of my printer. I can’t print to tray 2. I can’t print checks. My choice is to move paper around when I want to print, buy a new printer or hope that Microsoft or HP will develop a driver for my old printer.

I really wish Microsoft would STOP coming out with new operating systems!